We enable people without access to traditional banks (including many women) to expand their businesses, educate their children, save for the future and raise themselves out of poverty. Through Kiva, a non-profit organisation working with microfinance institutions, you choose a borrower to support with a loan of just $25. Similar loans by other lenders are combined until the required total is reached. As your money is repaid you can withdraw it or lend it to someone else. Money that is loaned over and over again does more good than a one-time donation.Join 'Genealogists for Families' - together we are making a difference!

20 October 2016

Making Money for Kiva via Online Surveys

This is an updated version of an earlier post.

Doing online surveys is an easy way to raise money for Kiva and other non-profit organisations (or for your 'genealogy wish-list').

Reputable sites do not generate spam emails or unwanted phone calls (and in most cases you can avoid giving them your phone number). Some of the surveys are conducted by Universities. Others involve trying new products, and I have 'tested' icecreams, cereal, kitchen wipes, teabags etc.

Some sites pay cash. Others let you choose a gift card (Coles/Myer, Woolworths/Caltex, Amazon, iTunes, Bunnings, etc). All the details will be on the site (look for FAQ or Help).

Survey panels to which I belong include (in order of preference):

Pure Profile: Available to residents of many countries. This site is my favourite, and I always earn $300 per year here. Pure Profile pays you 5c-20c even if you are screened out of a survey. Each time you log in, click 'Surveys' to see what's currently available. You will qualify for more surveys if you log in every day (or as often as possible). The surveys will be more relevant if you regularly check whether there are more questions to be answered about your preferences and interests (click 'Profile').

Australian Meal Panel: For Australians only. When asked for the 5 digit pin, enter 86127. Do a 3-minute survey about food two or three times per month, and receive $2 each time, plus $3 if you send in supermarket receipts. In other words, you could sometimes earn up to $15 per month. You will be paid via PayPal or by deposit to your bank account.

Your Voice: For Australians only. I have occasionally earned $50-$70 for a single survey here, but the smaller ones also add up to a decent amount. I recently earned $20 by doing an interesting survey about travel, TV programmes and other topics.

Don't despair if your earnings are low at first. In my experience, it gets better. Many surveys are targeted to specific groups, so you will increase your chances of being invited to relevant surveys if you answer the questions in your 'profile', update them periodically, and (if applicable) do the 'welcome survey' when you join.

Genealogists for Families members with some spare time may find surveys a good way to fund extra Kiva loans - or to earn money for more birth, death and marriage certificates!